Determining the value of collectible coins can be challenging, with various factors coming into play. One of the most reliable methods for gauging value is by examining coins that have been publicly sold and recording the prices they commanded at auction. While some coins are considered “priceless” and are held in museum collections, they are not part of this list, as they are unavailable for public purchase.
Coins minted as marketing stunts, like the Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin or Canada’s giant gold coins, may also be exceptionally valuable. However, they are not included here, as many were never meant to be sold. The coins listed below are those that have been sold at public auctions, ensuring that their prices are verifiable. All prices mentioned are in U.S. dollars and include any fees or commissions charged by auction houses.
10. 1804 Bust Dollar – Class I (Dexter-Pogue Specimen)
- Price Realized: $3,865,750
- Date Sold: March 31, 2017
- Auction House: Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s
The 1804 Bust Dollar, known as the “King of American Coins,” continues to reign in the world of numismatics. This particular specimen, once owned by numismatist James V. Dexter, was sold as part of the legendary D. Brent Pogue collection auction, which ultimately realized $106.69 million across multiple auctions.
9. 1804 Bust Dollar – Class I (Mickley-Hawn-Queller Specimen)
- Price Realized: $3,877,500
- Date Sold: August 9, 2013
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
This coin is part of a series of 1804 Bust Dollars, of which only 15 are known. Classified as “Class I” or “Original,” the Mickley-Hawn-Queller specimen has seen impressive sales, with its value increasing from $3.7 million in 2008 to almost $3.9 million in 2013.
8. $1 Million Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
- Price Realized: $4,020,000
- Date Sold: June 2010
- Auction House: Dorotheum Auction House, Vienna, Austria
Weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds), this coin is the largest gold coin ever produced. Created by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007 as a promotional piece, it features 99.999% pure gold. Only five such coins exist, and the one sold at auction in 2010 was sold for $4.02 million.
7. 1804 Silver Dollar – Class I (The Watters-Childs Specimen)
- Price Realized: $4,140,000
- Date Sold: August 30, 1999
- Auction House: Bowers & Merena
The finest known example of the 1804 Silver Dollar, graded Proof-68, was once the most valuable coin in the world. With a storied past that includes previous ownership by the Sultan of Muscat and Charles Frederick Childs, this rare coin set an auction record when it sold for $4.14 million in 1999.
6. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel (Morton-Smith-Eliasberg Specimen)
- Price Realized: $4,560,000
- Date Sold: August 2018
- Auction House: Stack’s Bowers Galleries
One of just five known specimens of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, the Morton-Smith-Eliasberg coin holds the title of the finest example. Its mirror-like surface and controversy over its mintage only add to its allure, making it a highly sought-after piece in the numismatic community.
5. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Breast (Bushnell-Garrett)
- Price Realized: $7,395,000
- Date Sold: December 2011
- Auction House: Blanchard and Company
This Brasher Doubloon, minted by goldsmith Ephraim Brasher, carries the “EB on the Breast” hallmark. With only a small number of these doubloons ever made, this example fetched a staggering $7.4 million in a private sale.
4. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Wing (Gilmor, Newlin, Davis, Brand)
- Price Realized: $4,582,500
- Date Sold: January 9, 2014
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Minted in 1787 by Ephraim Brasher, this “EB on Wing” Brasher Doubloon remains one of the most coveted coins in the world. A historically significant coin due to its connection with the early days of American coinage, it sold for nearly $4.6 million in 2014.
3. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Wing (Patrick Specimen)
- Price Realized: $9,360,000
- Date Sold: January 21, 2021
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
The Patrick Specimen is the finest known example of the 1787 Brasher Doubloon, one of only seven still in existence. The coin’s pristine condition and historical significance as one of the first privately minted gold coins in the United States led to its record-breaking $9.36 million sale in 2021.
2. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
- Price Realized: $10,016,875
- Date Sold: January 24, 2013
- Auction House: Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Believed to be one of the first silver dollars minted by the United States, this 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar sold for over $10 million in 2013. Its unique Proof-like reflectivity and remarkable preservation make it one of the most coveted coins in the world.
1. 1933 Double Eagle
- Price Realized: $18,872,250
- Date Sold: June 2021
- Auction House: Sotheby’s
The 1933 Double Eagle holds the title of the most expensive coin ever sold at auction. Due to its recall by President Roosevelt and subsequent illegal status, this coin is considered a true rarity. Only one 1933 Double Eagle has been legally sold, fetching nearly $19 million at auction in 2021.